Liverpool: The Year of Mohamed Salah

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool is challenged by Dale Stephens of Brighton and Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool at Amex Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

For Liverpool FC fans it must be shocking when Mohamed Salah doesn’t put the ball in the net. You’d have to forgive the “Kop” for not being allowed to lose his mind every game. Frankly during his debut season with Liverpool its surprising when the Egyptian national team member doesn’t score. His mastery of the ball on the pitch is so good, that he affects the score even when he doesn’t score goals.

A primary target in the summer transfer window, Mohamed Salah has proven his worth scoring 17 goals in all competitions for Liverpool leading the team in that category for this year thus far. On November 25 against his former club Chelsea, Salah scored his 10th goal in 13 Premier League games tying a mark previously set by Daniel Sturridge. He immediately followed that up by scoring two goals in his next game in a win and capped off his week with an assist on the first goal of a rout of Brighton in Liverpool’s 5-1 win on Saturday.

10 – Mohamed Salah has scored 10 goals in his first 13 Premier League apps for Liverpool, the joint-most by any Liverpool player in their first 13 apps in the competition (level with Daniel Sturridge). Impact.

Salah’s impact on the team has been evident more recently as he has helped the team maintain an eight game unbeaten streak since a 4-1 loss to Tottenham on October 22. Since that game Mohamed Salah has scored or assisted in every game except for one.

Salah’s impact just hasn’t translated at club level, Salah has been the symbol for the Egyptian National team. Nicknamed the “Egyptian Messi,” Salah has been a godsend for a country still reeling from the effects of the end of repressive dictatorship and chaos that ensued afterwards.

Salah started 2017 helping Egypt reach it’s first African Cup of Nations final since winning the competition in 2010. Salah scored the winning goal against Ghana giving Egypt the first place in their group, Salah would be named to post tournament team after finishing the tournament with two goals and two assists.

Despite not being able lift the African Cup, Mohamed Salah did provide his homeland a memory that they would not forget later in the year. During the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Salah was the team’s top scorer scoring five goals. Against Congo, needing a win to clinch their first World Cup berth since 1990.

Salah scored both of Egypt’s goals in a 2-1 win, including the game winning goal via penalty in injury time. Salah’s goal sent the country into delirium as they celebrated the teams win. For his efforts at home and abroad Salah was named a finalist for the African Player of the Year awarded by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

With the Premier League starting to ramp up and a chance to help Liverpool move into the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League, Mo Salah has a chance to make 2018 a great year. But guaranteed for Liverpool fans 2017 will be remembered as the “Year of Mo.”